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by
Associated Press

ANCHORAGE- The Federal Communications Commission has approved the sale of three Alaska television stations to General Communication Inc.

Transfer of the licenses was challenged by Alaska broadcasters including KTUU, KTBY and KYUR who argued that ownership by the company that dominates Alaska's cable and Internet market would create an anti-competitive situation.

The stations argued that GCI would be in a position to deny a competitor access to its cable system or to dictate onerous conditions.

In its decision this week, the FCC dismissed objections, calling them speculative. The commission said that granting the application would serve the "public interest, convenience, and necessity."

The sale applies to Anchorage CBS affiliate KTVA-TV, as well as Southeast Alaska NBC affiliates KATH-TV in Juneau and KSCT-TV in Sitka.